Price Fluxuations And MCP MCSE Training

Even as companies and businesses continue to migrate to the Net and use IT tools more widely, a key aspect of IT personnel training is being left in the cold: certification.

"Professional certification provides credibility on a specific platform, technology or product," said Richard Lozada, Microsoft Philippines director for .Net and Developer, in an e-mail interview with BusinessWorld. "... Companies see it as proof that they're hiring a person who is knowledgeable in a specific technology."

In the case of Microsoft, there are nine certification programs that pertain to specific competencies required by companies in their IT implementations.

These programs are the MCP (Microsoft certified professional), MCSA (Microsoft certified systems administrator), MCSD (solution developer), MCSE (systems engineer), MCAD (application developer), MCDBA (database administrator), MCT (trainer), MOUS (Office user specialist), and MOUS master instructor.

The cost factor for local companies is one reason for the lack of demand for certified IT professionals in the country. "The bulk of demand for certified IT professionals is outside the country," said Mr. Lozada, "and sometimes certification serves as a ticket to secure a good opportunity abroad."

Agnes Africa, Learning Services manager of IBM Philippines, agrees - high-paying jobs lure certified individuals into going abroad.

"Everybody knows about the value of certification like MCP MCSE," said Ms. Africa, in an interview with BusinessWorld. "It's really the cost issue plus the training of people who are certified. There is a big discrepancy between the average salary in the Philippines and (the salary of) certified IT professionals abroad. More people would rather go to the US."

For its part, IBM provides hardware and software IT product training services and certification for certain IBM hardware and software technologies, including AS/400, a server technology. In addition, IBM's e-learning business unit, IBM Mindspan, offers performance measurement and certification among the gamut of services it offers to businesses ranging from planning to delivery.

As companies in the Philippines offer considerably less in terms of salary for certified professionals, they tend to favor experience over certification.

Microsoft's Mr. Lozada, however, points to the benefits of certification, in spite of the perceived cost. Speaking for his company's programs, he said, "Microsoft certification exams are not costly. The price varies from $60-80 only, unlike other vendor programs. The perceived cost stems from training expenses and not from the certification itself."

"It would actually be more costly for companies to gamble on employees with questionable skills."

Consider the numbers. Mr. Lozada mentions that in the Philippines, there are currently around 1,800 certified IT professionals. As yet, there is no accounting of their whereabouts, that is, whether they have remained working in the country or have opted to work abroad.

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